Nesting magazine organizer

ABSTRACT

A container for holding a plurality of magazines, includes a first side wall having a first bottom edge, a first rear edge, a first top edge and a first front edge; a second side wall having a second bottom edge, a second rear edge, a second top edge and a second front edge; a bottom wall connecting the first and second bottom edges of the first and second side walls together; a rear wall connecting the first and second rear edges of the first and second side walls together; the bottom wall and the rear wall maintaining the first and second side walls in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation; the first and second top edges of the first and second side walls being unconnected with each other; and the first and second front edges of the first and second side walls being unconnected with each other; wherein side walls of a first such container fits within side walls of a second such container with a friction fit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to magazine and paper holders and, moreparticularly, is directed to a nesting magazine organizer.

Open ended containers for holding and organizing magazines and otherpapers are well known. Such containers are formed with parallel, spacedapart side walls connected by a bottom wall, a rear wall, and either afront wall or a top wall. If a top wall is provided, access is attainedthrough the front of the container, and if a front wall is provided,access is attained through the top of the container. The side walls havedimensions generally at least as great as the magazines to be receivedtherebetween, and are made of a sturdy plastic, cardboard or likematerial.

As with most containers, a problem occurs during shipping of thecontainers. Specifically, because of the free space between the sidewalls, the containers occupy an undue amount of space when shipped. Thisresults in an increase in the shipping cost of the same, particularlywhen shipping thousands of such containers.

U.S. Pat. No. 776,042 to Acheson discloses a packing and display boxwhich is used for storing and displaying bluing devices in the form ofsticks. The box is formed in two halves which are Joined together bynails during shipping and are separated into the two halves for displaythereafter. The two halves can each be used for displaying the sticks.However, the two halves, when joined together, are flush with eachother, thereby requiring the aforementioned nails to temporarily securethe two halves together during shipping.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,065,922 to Cutler discloses a receptacle formed of twohalves which are hingedly connected to each other. However, only one ofthe halves is used for storing materials, and the other half is used asa cover.

German Offenlegungsscrift No. 1,486,241, which was filed on May 6, 1965and published on May 29, 1969, discloses a packaging container of foamplastic, with a base and side walls designed so that containers can bestacked one on top of the other, and aligned with others alongside. Theconstruction, however, requires a relatively complicated configuration,with edges thereof formed with a zig-zag type shape in order tointermesh with each other.

French Patent No. 1,253,068 discloses a container having two identicalseparable parts which are held together by tongue-type connectors. Inthis manner, the positioning of the tongues must be precise in order toobtain a secure fitting of the separable parts. The tongues thereforeincrease the manufacturing costs and complexity of the container.

Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,903 to Sanders et al. discloses anothercontainer held together with snap fasteners.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anesting magazine organizer in which two containers can be interfittedwith each other in a friction fitting relation for compact and easyshipping.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a nestingmagazine organizer in which the two containers need not be provided withany separate connecting means for interfitting them together.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a nestingmagazine organizer in which the two containers are formed with identicalconfigurations.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a nestingmagazine organizer in which each container is adapted to hold aplurality of magazines and other papers.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a container forholding a plurality of magazines, includes a first side wall having afirst bottom edge, a first rear edge, a first top edge and a first frontedge; a second side wall having a second bottom edge, a second rearedge, a second top edge and a second front edge; a bottom wallconnecting the first and second bottom edges of the first and secondside walls together; a rear wall connecting the first and second rearedges of the first and second side walls together; the bottom wall andthe rear wall maintaining the first and second side walls insubstantially parallel, spaced apart relation; the first and second topedges of the first and second side walls being unconnected with eachother; and the first and second front edges of the first and second sidewalls being unconnected with each other; wherein the first and secondside walls of a first such container fits within the first and secondside walls of a second such second container with a friction fit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a nestingmagazine organizer includes:

(a) a first container for holding a plurality of magazines, the firstcontainer including:

(i) a first side wall having a first bottom edge, a first rear edge, afirst top edge and a first front edge;

(ii) a second side wall having a second bottom edge, a second rear edge,a second top edge and a second front edge;

(iii) a first bottom wall connecting the first and second bottom edgesof the first and second side walls together;

(iv) a first rear wall connecting the first and second rear edges of thefirst and second side walls together;

(v) the first bottom wall and the first rear wall maintaining the firstand second side walls in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation;

(vi) the first and second top edges of the first and second side wallsbeing unconnected with each other;

(vii) the first and second front edges of the first and second sidewalls being unconnected with each other;

(b) a second container for holding a plurality of magazines, the secondcontainer including:

(i) a third side wall having a third bottom edge, a third rear edge, athird top edge and a third front edge;

(ii) a fourth side wall having a fourth bottom edge, a fourth rear edge,a fourth top edge and a fourth front edge;

(iii) a second bottom wall connecting the third and fourth bottom edgesof the third and fourth side walls together;

(iv) a second rear wall connecting the third and fourth rear edges ofthe third and fourth side walls together;

(v) the second bottom wall and the second rear wall maintaining thethird and fourth side walls in substantially parallel, spaced apartrelation;

(vi) the third and fourth top edges of the third and fourth side wallsbeing unconnected with each other; and

(vii) the third and fourth front edges of the third and fourth sidewalls being unconnected with each other; and

(c) the first and second side walls of the first container fittingwithin the third and fourth side walls of the second container with afriction fit.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become readily apparent from the following detaileddescription which is to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the nesting magazine organizer accordingto the present invention in a condition for shipping;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the nesting magazine organizer ofFIG. 1, taken along line 2--2 thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the two containers of the nestingmagazine organizer of FIG. 1 separated from each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail, a nesting magazine organizer 10according to the present invention includes two containers 12A and 12B,each constructed to hold a plurality of magazines and other papers (notshown). Both containers 12A and 12B are constructed in an identicalmanner, and accordingly, a detailed description of only one containerwill be given, with the understanding that the reference numerals usedto describe such container have an A or a B added thereto in thedrawings, depending upon which container 12A or 12B is shown.

Container 12 includes two parallel, spaced apart side walls 16 and 18which are constructed in an identical manner, and accordingly, only oneside wall 16 will be described. Side wall 16 has a height at a rear edge20 thereof, generally at least as great as the height of magazines to beheld therein. Side wall 16 also has a width along a bottom edge 22thereof which extends forwardly a sufficient distance that is generallyat least as great as the width of the magazines to be contained incontainer 12, bottom edge 22 being substantially perpendicular to rearedge 20. The top edge 24 of side wall 16 extends from rear edge 20, butonly for a small distance which is much less than the length of bottomedge 22, and which is preferably parallel to bottom edge 22.

The front edge of side wall 16 which connects the forwardmost portionsof bottom edge 22 and top edge 24 is preferably formed in three edgesections 26, 28 and 30. Specifically, edge section 26 extends downwardlyfrom the forwardmost portion of top edge 24 at an angle of approximately110 degrees with respect thereto. Edge section 28 extends downwardlyfrom the lowermost portion of edge section 26 at an angle ofapproximately 125 degrees with respect thereto, and edge section 30extends downwardly from the lowermost portion of edge section 28 insubstantially parallel relation to rear edge 20 and meets with theforwardmost portion of bottom edge 22.

As shown, side wall 16 is cut-out, as at 32, in order to reduce thematerials used in formation of the container, without affecting itsperformance. Cut-out section 32 should not be too large, since itsperformance may be affected, that is, the magazines may fall out throughcut-out section 32. In the embodiment shown, cut-out section 32 ifformed in a triangular configuration, although the present invention isnot limited thereby.

Container 12 Includes a bottom wall 34 which connects bottom edges 22 ofside walls 16 and 18 together to maintain the same in the aforementionedparallel, spaced apart relation. Bottom wall 34 is preferably formedwith linear raised projections 35 extending thereacross, for supportingcontainer 12 on a flat surface, without damaging such surface.

In addition, container 12 includes a rear wall 36 which connects rearedges 20 of side walls 16 and 18 together to maintain the same in theaforementioned parallel, spaced apart relation. Rear wall 36 has aheight less than that of rear edges 20, whereby a U-shaped recess 38 isdefined at the upper rear portion of container 12 by the upper edge ofrear wall 36 and the portions of rear edges 20 extending thereabove.This aids in the nesting of containers 12A and 12B within each other, aswill be explained in greater detail hereinafter. In addition, rear wall36 includes a small cut-out 37 at the lower portion thereof, to aid theuser in carrying container 12 and removing container 12A from container12B.

An upwardly extending tab 40 is formed at the forwardmost portion ofbottom wall 34 between front edges 30, and extends upwardly a distancewhich is not greater than the height of recess 38. The width of tab 40is less than that of bottom wall 34, so that there is a small space atopposite sides of tab 40, that is, between tab 40 and side walls 16 and18, so as to define grooves 42 and 44. This construction cooperates withrecess 38 so as to aid in the nesting of containers 12A and 12B withineach other, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

Preferably, side walls 16 and 18 are constructed from a resilientplastic material, cardboard or the like. It will be appreciated from theabove that side walls 16 and 18 are not connected together at top edges24 and the front edges thereof defined by edge sections 26, 28 and 30.Accordingly, side walls 16 and 18 can be flexed slightly toward and awayfrom each other, but when the external force is removed, side walls 16and 18 will return to their original parallel, spaced apartconfiguration.

In order to reduce the space required when shipping containers 12A and12B, the containers are nested within each other, as shown in FIG. 1.Specifically, container 12B is first inverted with respect to container12A. Then, side walls 16B and 18B of container 12B are forced slightlytoward each other, and inserted in the space between side walls 16A and18A of container 12A, the latter side walls 16A and 18A being therebyforced apart slightly. This creates a friction fit which securely holdscontainers 12A and 12B in this relationship for condensed shipping.

In addition, the upper portions of rear edges 20B of container 12B whichdefine recess 38B, fit within grooves 42A and 44A defined between tab40A and side walls 16A and 18A. Accordingly, side walls 16B and 18B aredeformed slightly toward each other when fit within grooves 42A and 44A.This provides a further fiction fit.

It will therefore be appreciated that containers 12A and 12B of nestingmagazine organizer 10 can be interfitted with each other in a frictionfitting relation for easy shipping, without any separate connectingmeans being provided for interfitting them together. Still further,containers 12A and 12B are formed with identical configurations, whichdoes not require any additional tooling.

Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that thepresent invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and thatvarious changes and modifications may be effected therein by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A nesting container assembly for holding aplurality of magazines, comprising:a first container having a first sidewall having a first bottom edge, a first rear edge, a first top edge anda first front edge; a second side wall having a second bottom edge, asecond rear edge, a second top edge and a second front edge; a bottomwall connecting said first and second bottom edges of said first andsecond side walls together; a rear wall connecting said first and secondrear edges of said first and second side walls together; said rear wallhas a height less than that of said first and second rear edges so as todefine a recess; said bottom wall and said rear wall maintaining saidfirst and second side walls in substantially parallel, spaced apartrelation; said first and second top edges of said first and second sidewalls being unconnected with each other; said first and second frontedges of said first and second side walls being unconnected with eachother; said first container further including an upstanding tabconnected to said bottom wall between said first and second front edgesand having a width less than that of said bottom wall to define firstand second grooves between said tab and said first and second frontedges; a second container having the above described components; saidfirst and second side walls of said first container fits within saidfirst and second side walls of said second container with a frictionfit; said first and second top edges of said first and second side wallsof said first container being accommodated in said first and secondgrooves and said second container; said first and second top edges ofsaid first and second side walls of said second container beingaccommodated in said first and second grooves of said first container;said tab of said first container being accommodated in said recess ofsaid second container; said tab of said second container beingaccommodated in said recess of said first container; whereby said firstcontainer is accommodated in an inverted position within said secondcontainer with a friction fit.
 2. A nesting container assembly accordingto claim 1; wherein said first and second side walls are each providedwith cut-out sections.
 3. The nesting container assembly of claim1,wherein said rear walls of each of said first and second containersinclude a cut-out to facilitate separation of said first and secondcontainers after friction fitting of said first and second containers.4. A nesting magazine organizer, comprising:(a) a first container forholding a plurality of magazines, said first container including;(i) afirst side wall having a first bottom edge, a first rear edge, a firsttop edge and a first front edge; (ii) a second side wall having a secondbottom edge, a second rear edge, a second top edge and a second frontedge; (iii) a first bottom wall connected said first and second bottomedges of said first and second side walls together; (iv) a first rearwall connecting said first and second rear edges of said first andsecond side wall together; (v) said first bottom wall and said firstrear wall maintaining said first and second side walls in substantiallyparallel, spaced apart relation; (vi) said first and second top edges ofsaid first and second side walls being unconnected with each other, saidfirst and second top edges of said first and second side walls beingunconnected to said first rear wall; and (vii) said first and secondfront edges of said first and second side walls being unconnected witheach other; (b) a second container for holding a plurality of magazines,said second container including:(i) a third side wall having a thirdbottom edge, a third rear edge, a third top edge and a third front edge;(ii) a fourth side wall having fourth bottom edge, a fourth rear edge, afourth top edge and a fourth front edge; (iii) a second bottom wallconnecting said third and fourth bottom edges of said third and fourthside walls together; (iv) a second rear wall connecting said third andfourth rear edges of said third and fourth side walls together; (v) saidsecond bottom wall and said second rear wall maintaining said third andfourth side walls in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation; (vi)said third and fourth top edges of said third and fourth side wallsbeing unconnected with each other, said third and fourth top edges ofsaid third and fourth top walls being unconnected to said second rearwall; (vii) said third and fourth front edges of said third and fourthside walls being unconnected with each other; (c) said first and secondside walls of said first container fitting within said third and fourthside walls of said second container with a friction fit, said first andsecond containers being of the same size.
 5. A nesting magazineorganizer according to claim 4; wherein said first rear wall has aheight less than that of said first and second rear edges so as todefine a first recess, and said second rear wall has a height less thanthat of said third and fourth rear edges so as to define a secondrecess.
 6. A nesting magazine organizer according to claim 5; whereinsaid first container further includes a first upstanding tab connectedto said first bottom wall between said first and second front edges andhaving a width less than that of said first bottom wall to define firstand second grooves between said first tab and said first and secondfront edges, and said second container further includes a secondupstanding tab connected to said second bottom wall between said thirdand fourth front edges and having a width less than that of said secondbottom wall to define third and fourth grooves between said second taband said third and fourth front edges.
 7. The nesting magazine organizerof claim 4,wherein said rear walls of each of said first and secondcontainers include a cut-out to facilitate separation of said first andsecond containers after friction fitting of said first and secondcontainers.
 8. A nesting magazine organizer according to claim 4;wherein said first through fourth side walls are each provided withcut-out sections.